Introduction: Like Haggai, Zechariah was a prophet to the Jewish remnant that returned after the 70 year exile.Much of Zechariah is to be interpreted in light of related prophecy.This Book is surpassed in prophecies of Christ only by the Book of Isaiah.

The man and the Book: The name Zechariah means: remembered of the Lord.

His work began approximately 2 months after Haggai’s and their works parallel each other. Most of this Book is made up of eight (8) visions encouraging the rebuilding of the Temple and four (4) visions of the Messianic Kingdom.

NOTES: God will always find men to do his work – there were horns to be cut off. Here are the carpenters or artificers; God will always find the right sort of men. God choose men of ability to empower them to do His will and to defeat the enemy..

God will always find enough men to do His work and His will. There were four horns, so are there four smiths to beat them to pieces.Empires which have opposed the Lord have been crushed to powder, it always be so. No power can stand against the Lord of Hosts.

III. The Man With The Measuring Line – Chap. 2

A. The City of Jerusalem shall be (future tense) restored and made bigger or enlarged: 2:2-5

B. Those Jews exiled will return to the Land: 2:6-7

C. Jehovah God will protect His people and He will make their enemies a “spoil:” 2:8-9

D. Many nations will be converted or joined to the Lord: 2:10-13

E. Man with a measuring line: 2:1

1.He is also represented in Ezekiel 40:3

2. He is found in Revelation 21:15 & Ezekiel 41:1-26

3. There are several other Scriptures which represent this … The Man is none other than

God Himself. The Jews are, here, encouraged to go forward with the building of the

Temple and they are also encouraged for future restoration.

V. Visions Four Through Eight

A. Four: Joshua, the High Priest and satan- chap. 3

1. This pictures the removing of iniquity and the future glory of Israel

2. When we stand before God, to serve Him, or stand up for God, we must expect to

meet all the resistance satan’s subtlety and malice can give to us

3. Vs 3: filthy garments = their removal is symbolic of the removing of iniquity from

Joshua … representing his people.

B. Five: The golden candlestick and thetwo olive trees -chap. 4

1. Vs 2: candlestick is light = Israel was to send forth the light of the Gospel;

the Temple was to be rebuilt – vs 9 – so that the Word of Godcould be sent forth as a

light shining in a world full of the darkness of sin.

2. Vs 11-14: reference to Revelation 11:3-4

C. Six: The Flying roll; 5:1-4

1. This represents the Word of God that judges

2. Vs 2: 30’ X 14’

3. Vs 4: The Word of God goes against sin and wickedness

D. Seven: the “epah” vs 6, was the old time Jewish symbol for trade and the woman,

commerce of the remnant that had returned. The two women, more specifically, are

sent to carry away the corrupt woman.

2. Vs 9: Stork = an unclean bird

E. Eight: The Four War Chariots; chap. 6:1-8

1. The judgment of the Lord upon the nations

2. Vs 9-15: Joshua is crowned as a type of Christ … the immediate meaning ofthat is

simply: Jehovah God, as He sends forth His chariot judgment on the Gentile powers that

surrounded Israel, has returned with mercies and gracious promises to His remaining

people.

3. Vs 1: four chariots represent swift coming, Divine judgment

4. Four angels driving the chariots are… vs 5, the four spirits of the heavens.

NOTES: The underlying idea that runs throughout this prophecy is summed up in chapter 1:14-16. This Book takes us to the immediate need of God’s people to the ultimate fulfillment at Christ’s second Coming. We also can realize why these passages are relating to the future is that when the Messiah came and offered Himself to His people, Israel, they rejected Him and crucified Him.

The Human Writer: Habakkuk prophesied during the later years of King Josiah. He also lived during the time of Jeremiah. The name Habakkuk means: “embracing.”

Habakkuk speaks to God concerning Habakkuk’s concerns about God’s working among the nations. Habakkuk 1:4; 1:13 = why do the wicked prosper?

The Central Message of the book: Chapter 2:4b “… but the just shall live by his faith.”

Background: The Assyrian Empire had fallen as Nahum had prophesied: Egypt and Babylon were trying to dominate the world. The Babylonians and Chaldeans were united together under King Nebuchadnezzar and would conquer Judah.

Habakkuk could not understand why a nation like Babylon, with all its wickedness, could conquer a nation like Judah. After all, Judah’s sins were not as bad as Babylon’s sins.

This seemed like evil was wining out over good. So, God shows Habakkuk His plan.

Brief outline of this Book

I.The Burden – Chap. 1 The apparent triumph of s

II.The Vision – Chap. 2

Coming punishment of the Chaldeans

III.The Prayer – Chap. 3

Confidence that God is coming

I.The Burden

A. Chap. 1:1: he saw

1. Vs 2: he cried

2. Vs 2: he did not believe that God heard his cry of prayer

3. Vs 2: why does not God save?

B. He wonders why the wicked prosper?

1. The Chaldeans are bitter and nasty: Vs 6 – 7

2. Vs 9: they come for violence.

II.The Vision

A. Chap. 2:4: “… the just shall live by his faith.”

This verse is quoted 3 X’s in the New Testament

B. Chap. 2:14: The earth filled with God’s glory

C. Chap. 2:20: The Lord … in His Holy Temple: Psalm 11:4

III. The Prayer

A. Chap. 3:2: Revive Thy work

B. We find Habakkuk praising God, who will always work things out for His glory and

honor. Our part, take time to talk to Him in prayer; study His Word; wait patiently for

Him.

Five Woe’s In The Book Of Habakkuk

1. A Woe against aggression: 2:5-8.

This speaks of the doom, some think, of Nebuchadnezzar, who was principally active in the

destruction of Jerusalem

2. A Woe against covetousness 2:8-11

3. A Woe against violence: 2:12-14. Vs 14 is from Isaiah 11:9.

Vs 13, all the Babylonian cities will be burnt down: Jeremiah 51:58.

God defeats the enemy and in vs 14, the Word of God is spread.

4. A Woe against drinking and inhumanity: 2:15-17.

A 2 fold teaching here:

1. The king of Babylon was drunken with covetousness and cruelty. He provoked others to

do the same, and inflamed them by his madness, and so in the end brought them to shame.

2. Drinking alcohol can produce drunkenness.

Drunkenness produces stupid actions: Proverbs 23:29-33.

Vs 30: “mixed wine” = mixing wine with other ingredients to make it stronger.

It usually takes 3-7 days to ferment

Vs 31: “red’ = fermented.

5. A Woe against idolatry: 2:18-20

Basic lesson from this Book: We can rejoice and we should rejoice in spite of our unpleasant circumstances. Give your burdens to the Lord and wait on Him for a solution to your problems.

Realize, what we consider as our “problems” are really an opportunity for God to show His power in our lives.

It would be good for you to read Chapter 4 of the book of Philippians as a help to this.

God can take what we consider “problems” and use it for His honor, glory and His good.

sparks from the stones over which they pass(pt 1 & 2quote from Jamieson – Fausset

Brown)

III. The Cause Of Nineveh’sRuin

A. The sins of that great city are

1. Murder3:1

2. Whoredom and witchcraft:3:4

3. Wickedness:3:19

B. God’s judgment: Vs 5

1. He will expose their sin

2. It was an ancient custom to strip prostitutes naked, or throw their clothes over their

heads and expose them to public view

3. Nineveh will be stripped of her glory and defenses: the things that the city had pride in

C. Nineveh’s future: 3:19

1. No healing of thy bruise = the city will never be rebuilt

2. Shall clap the hands = rejoice in your down fall

3. bruit of thee = the report of what’s happened to Nineveh

Forhundreds of years, most scholars thought that the City ofNineveh was a myth. In 1845, the ruins of Nineveh were found. The mounds across from the Tigris river from Mosul was confirmed to be the ruins of Nineveh.

This Book also teaches that: Even though the ungodly will prosper for a time – God’s judgment will come and God will deliver His people.

Isaiah was a learned man and ministered to the upper classes while Micah ministered more to the lower classes from which he came.

The Book: It was written during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

It shows judgment for idolatry. This Book followed the lead of most of the prophets and spoke of the ultimate triumph of God’s grace and the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise to the faithful remnant.

Date: 750 – 710 B.C.

This Book contributed to the revival under King Hezekiah: (Jeremiah 26:18-19).

NOTE: chapter 1:2 “Hear” 3:1 “Hear” – 6:1 “Hear”

Brief Outline Of The Book

I.ComingJudgment Declared – chaps 1-3

II.Future Blessing Promised – chaps 4-5

III.Repentance Pleaded – chaps 6-7

Note: Micah Chapter 7; the prophet pleads for repentance: what was their sin?

Micah 7:1-2: “… they lie in wait for blood …” = ambush – they have a plot;

“… they hunt every brother with a net.” = They set a trap for a brother

Jonah was from the Northern Kingdom. His hometown was 3 miles from the birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem.

The first mention of Jonah: II Kings 14:25

The Book: It showsthat the love of God and the redemption of man is not just for the Jew … but for ALL who will repent.

Date: Approximately 862 B.C.

Ninevah: At this time – the capital of the Assyrian Empireat its height.Until its fall in 612 B.C.

it was the greatest city of that time.

Within its walls were gardens and groves; vast, lush pastures; splendid temples and palaces.

Its walls were 40-50’ high following 2miles down the Tigris River; then 8 miles around the inner city = 20 sq. miles.

They had their own water system. The Kings Palacecontained 71 rooms with walls lined with sculpturedslabs.

Chapter 4:11: there were 120,000 infants. The total population is estimated at between 400,000 & 500,000 people.

Jonah 1:2: It was a wicked city.

Jonah 3:3: It was 3 days journey through that great city

Jonah 3:5: Thepeople repented, so … Why did Jonah run?

Brief Outline Of The Book

I. Fleeing – chap. 1

II. Praying – chap. 2

III. Preaching – chap 3

IV. Learning – chap. 4

Jonah knew of the prophecy regarding the Assyrians. Their capitol; was Nineveh – a rising power during Jonah’s time. One day, theywould destroy Israel, Jonah’s homeland. Jonahalso knew of the savagery of the Assyrians – their brutality, unspeakable torture, and killing of those they conquered.

God tells Jonah to preach to those murderous savages so that they would be saved; knowing that one day …. they would conquer his people.Jonah was willing to spare his people; give up everything of importance to him and sacrifice his own life, if necessary, for Israel.He knew that if he preached and they got saved; God would spare Nineveh and Israel’s fate would be sealed.

Jonah was wrong for putting his people first and obedience to God second. We must obey God, even ifit doesn’t make sense to us …. even if we don’t understand it …. even if we don’t like the outcome of it.